§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new arrangements are to be made over arming police with weapons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdMy right hon. and learned Friend has recently authorised the acquisition by the Metropolitan police of a small number of sub-machine guns. These will be deployed only for the protection of persons considered to be at high risk and would be issued only under stringent conditions and in quite exceptional circumstances when the degree of threat against a person being protected justified such a precaution. Authority for their issue will not be given by a person below the rank of assistant commissioner. The officers to whom these weapons would be issued will be trained to a very high standard by the Metropolitan police's firearms training specialists.